Lucky - or not? Almost six months ago, a lottery player bought a Mega Millions ticket somewhere in New Jersey. That ticket won the ninth-largest lottery prize of $1.13 billion. Until now, it hasn't been claimed - and the anonymous winner just has until March of 2025 to claim it or it will be worthless.

A winning Mega Millions ticket purchased on the night of March 26, 2024, is still unclaimed, with a staggering $1.13 billion jackpot on the line. The prize, which ranks as the ninth-largest lottery reward in US history, was sold at a ShopRite grocery store in Neptune, New Jersey - and has yet to be redeemed more than six months after the draw.

Despite the high stakes, the fortunate ticket holder has not come forward. However, the winner still has (some) time. Thanks to New Jersey's generous lottery redemption period, the winner has until March 26, 2025, to claim the life-changing jackpot. While other states enforce stricter deadlines, New Jersey allows up to one year for winners to file their claims.

A race against time

The winning numbers - 7, 11, 22, 29, 38, along with the Mega Ball 4 - sealed a remarkable win for someone who only spent $2. Yet, as the days pass, there is a growing concern that the ticket might be lost, misplaced, or forgotten. If the ticket remains unclaimed by the deadline, the entire $1.13 billion will be forfeited, rendering the life-altering ticket worthless.

The Mega Millions Consortium oversees the popular lottery game across 45 states as well as Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands, is urging the winner to come forward. "The winner should contact New Jersey Lottery as soon as possible to begin the claim process," the consortium said in a recent statement. Typically, most major jackpot prizes are claimed in a few weeks or even months, making this six-month wait quite unusual.

While it's common for winners to seek legal and financial guidance before claiming a large jackpot, such consultations typically don't take over half a year. The fact that no one has come forward to claim this massive prize suggests the possibility that the ticket may have been misplaced or overlooked.

The cash option vs. annuity: a critical decision

If the lucky winner steps forward, they'll have crucial decisions to make, including whether to opt for the full jackpot value over a 30-year annuity or take a one-time cash option of $537.5 million. While the annuity may offer long-term financial security, many winners prefer the lump sum, despite the steep federal and state taxes that would cut deeply into the prize.

In New Jersey, lottery winnings are subject to a 37% federal tax and a 10.75% state tax, which is among the highest state lottery taxes in the country, second only to the 10.9% tax levied by New York. This means that should the winner opt for the lump sum, a significant portion of the prize would be lost to taxes, though it would still leave the winner with a hefty payout.

Another consideration for the winner is whether to remain anonymous. Thanks to a law passed in 2020, New Jersey allows lottery winners to keep their identities private.

Redemption deadlines vary by state

Lottery redemption deadlines vary significantly across the US. While New Jersey offers a year to claim a prize, other states have much shorter windows. For example, Oregon allows winners a mere 60 days, while Iowa, South Carolina, and New Mexico set a 90-day deadline. Most states - 27 in total, along with Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands - provide six months for winners to come forward.

New Jersey is one of only 13 states offering a full year for redemption, alongside Delaware, Kansas, Illinois, and others.

The role of online lottery sales

Though New Jersey does not currently allow the sale of Mega Millions tickets online, digital lottery couriers like Jackpocket offer a solution for residents. These services purchase physical tickets on behalf of players who order them online, adding an extra layer of security for those concerned about losing their tickets. In cases where tickets are purchased digitally, the chances of losing or damaging a winning ticket are significantly reduced.

If this particular Mega Millions ticket had been bought through an online platform, the winner would have been notified almost immediately after the draw, and the ticket redemption process would already be underway.

As the March 2025 deadline approaches, the mystery remains: Where is the winning ticket, and why hasn't the lucky winner claimed their prize? With nearly six more months to go, the clock is ticking for the unknown holder of the $1.13 billion Mega Millions ticket.